Community Affairs
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Hebrews 3:1
Partakers – What’s the difference between “partaker” and “partner?” The answer is crucial for understanding this verse. You see, generally we think of partakers as those who take a part for themselves. When I partake of the Lord’s Supper, I take a small piece of bread and a tiny glass of wine for my benefit. But that’s not what this Greek word really means. It is metochoi, a noun derived from the verb metecho (literally, to have with). The emphasis of this noun is not taking a little piece of the pie. The emphasis is about being a partner in association with others. In other words, it not about what I get. It’s about who I am with.
The author of Hebrews draws two associations from this partnership. The first is with our other holy brethren. We are together with them in this heavenly calling. Recently someone asked me, “If YHWH is the God of Israel, then how do we as Gentiles have a relationship with Him? We aren’t Jews.” The answer is here, in metochoi. We are partners in this grand scheme. We aren’t Jews, but we are not excluded. The Gentiles are invited to enter into the house of Israel, to be grafted into the commonwealth of Israel so that “your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” This is the first association relationship. Israel is Israel by election. By adoption, we too are Israel. Praise His Name!
The second association is even more important. We are metochoi with Yeshua HaMashiach. He is not only our Apostle (the one sent to bring news) and High Priest (the one designated to make intercession for us), He is also a partner with us. In fact, it is on the basis of this partnership that we are grafted in, adopted and accepted. Yes, consider Yeshua! The only door, the only shepherd, the only bread of life, through whom all things were made and without whom nothing with eternal consequence can be done. He is brother, friend, master, benefactor, lord, companion and partner. We are holy brethren because of Him and we are called on His behalf.
Consider Yeshua! What was His view of metochos? How much of himself did he commit to others? Are you a partaker or a partner? Are you dipping your hand into God’s kingdom hoping to extract a bit of bread and a taste of wine for your needs? Or are you immersed in partnership with holy brethren, filled to the brim with life together? Are you hanging around the door, trying to get a glimpse of the party inside? Or are you right in the thick of things, reveling in the joy of being together, sharing sorrows and victories with those chosen by God and those chosen to be adopted by God? A partaker is an arm’s length believer. A partner is a full-body follower.
Topical Index: partaker, partner, metochoi, community, Hebrews 3:1
Shalom Chaverim,
It is ironic somewhat that Yeshua’s model of “partaking” is more accurately depicted as “pargiving”! I know that often times I am guilty of visualizing ha derech (the path) from a personal perspective when the reality for those whom HE has called is more accurately visualized as a “group pilgrimage”. Our obligation is to insure the success of the group … even at the expense of ourselves.
John 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
What a standard … what an obligation … but a community is only successful when individuals sacrifice on behalf of the greater whole!
A good and needed reminder Skip … thanks!